GERMAN AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 March 1932, Page 5

GERMAN AFFAIRS

DISCOVERY OF PLOT NAZI OFFICES RAIDED. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright MUNICH, Friday. Herr Hitler lias vigorously protested against the tactics of Herr Severing, Prussian Minister of the Interior, in ordering a search of Nazi offices throughout Prussia to check the truth of the assertion that the Nazis prepared the “putsch” of loth March. Similar raids are being undertaken at Cologne and other towns, where many documents are being seized and forwarded to Berlin.

The police declare the raids have shown that the Nazis organised “storm” troops, and planned and supplied transport and armaments for operations lasting for weeks. Her Hitler contends that the Nazis are victims of deliberate violence and terrorism by their opp-onests. Forty of Tils storm troops were killed in the streets recently, and thousands were assaulted and wounded, consequently instructions were issued by the leaders at election time ordering them to be prepared in anticipation of attacks.

Herr Hitler adds: “The Minister of the Interior in the Reich approved of the plans a week previously. Herr Severing’s election manoeuvre will not save the Socialists from inevitable defeat on 24th April.” All the Hitlerite local headquarters in Prussia were raided, also the homes of many of the leaders. The Nazi offices were searched for documents and arms. Herr Severing ordered the raids following the discovery of a plot that, if Herr Hitler had been elected on Sunday, his private army would have marched on Berlin and seized power immediately on the signal “Grandmother is dead —Max,” issued at Munich, which would have set the Hitler forces in motion.

Proceedings are being taken against the Nazi military advisers for high treason. It is expected that the Government will issue a decree dissolving the so-called storm troops.

(In Germany on the eve of the presidential election, stringent precautions to preserve order were taken. Frequent patrols of foot and mounted police and lorries filled with police armed with carbines, bayonets, and truncheons, were a feature in all the large cities. Nevertheless, there were numerous clashes, notably in Prussia and the Rhineland. Brawling developed in Berlin in the afternoon, and serious fighting, Moors, Nazis, and Socialists exchanging shots). AN EASTER TRUCE. BERLIN, Friday. President Hindenburgli has proclaimed a political truce during Easter, in which public meetings, political demonstrations, political leaflets, and posteis are prohibited.